Blue Pony golfers excited to tee it up at Eastern A

By Havre Daily Staff

All season long, golfers from Havre High have had one goal in mind - getting better. Now, the Blue Ponies will put that goal to the ultimate test.

On Friday morning, Havre tees it up with Laurel, Billings Central, Glendive, Livingston, Miles City, Hardin, Lockwood, Lewistown and Sidney at the Eastern A Divisional in Billings, where trophies, medals and coveted berths in the state tournament will be on the line.

"Very excited for the 10 kids who qualified for divisionals," Havre head coach George Ferguson said. "They've earned their way here. They've worked hard, they've done what they needed to do to get to this point. Now, it's just about going out and playing the best 18 holes of their season."

The Havre boys, who took fifth at the Eastern A a year ago, will be a very young team in Billings. The Ponies are led by returners Shane Patacsil and Matt Huse, who have divisional experience, but HHS is also bringing three first-timers to Billings in junior Reid Kato and sophomores Tanner Delarosa and Noah Barrett. That group, without a senior, must contend with defending state champion Laurel, as well as star-studded teams from Livingston, Billings Central and Lewistown.

"Our boys team is short on experience," Ferguson said. "But these guys have improved a ton, they've done a great job of focusing and just working on their games. I think they'll be in the hunt for one of the top four team spots to state. We'll have to shoot some good scores to do it, but I know these guys can do it."

While the Havre boys are young, the Pony girls also have just one returner from last year's divisional team in junior Shea Reber. She's been a top player for the Ponies all season long, and has steadily become one of the best in the division. After that, however, four newcomers to divisional will compose the rest of the HHS lineup in junior Calista Pyrak, sophomores Tierra Parker and Brenna Hanson and senior Mackenzie Kuhn. That fivesome will battle Laurel, Lewistown, Lockwood and Miles City for the top spots in Billings.

"Our girls team is definitely in the hunt to qualify," Ferguson said. "Our scores have been improving every week. Laurel is certainly the team to beat, but after that, those three spots are really up for grabs, and our girls team is definitely one of the contenders. I'm really proud of the way the girls have worked to get better and better, and I think they're going to do great this week."

Havre won't just be battling the rest of the Eastern A, they'll be competing against a tough course at Lake Hills Golf Club, as well as some potentially tough weather. While Friday is slated to be be warm and sunny, winds could gust over 40 mph, and with the pressure of trying to qualify for state, that could make for one tough day.

"That's really the focus," Ferguson said. "Not trying to shoot a score or worry about what other players are doing. We want to focus on the course, course management and just trying to make good swings and good putts. If we concentrate and focus on those things, and not what we can't control, we'll do very well. I'm just excited for our kids. This is what they've worked for all season, it's here now. They're a great group of kids and I can't wait to see how they all do on Friday."

Havre travels to Billings for the Eastern A Friday at Lake Hills. The top four boys and girls teams, and/or, top 28 individual boys and girls advance to next week's Class A State Tournament in Hamilton.